Audi Shops Houston Market Test

DALLAS Audi of America has issued requests for proposals to 11 agencies for a minority marketing assignment of less than $1 million, sources said.

Sources said the shops that received RFPs, which are due Monday, are independents Chisholm-Mingo Group in New York; Crossover Creative Group in Richmond, Calif.; Garcia 360 and The Obo Team, both in San Antonio; E. Morris Communications in Chicago; LatinWorks in Austin, Texas; Lopez Negrete in Houston; and Publicis Groupe's Bromley Communications and Pangea Partners, both in San Antonio. 3B Resources Group Public Relations in Houston and an undisclosed PR firm were also sent the document, sources said.

The winning agency will launch a creative and media campaign in the Houston area. The effort will be considered a test for other markets, sources said. A cut to less than five agencies is expected next.

The Auburn Hills, Mich.-based client could not immediately be reached for comment. The automaker spent $71 million on general-market media last year, according to TNS Media Intelligence/CMR. Havas' McKinney + Silver in Raleigh, N.C., is Audi's general-market agency.

DALLAS Audi of America has issued requests for proposals to 11 agencies for a minority marketing assignment of less than $1 million, sources said.

Sources said the shops that received RFPs, which are due Monday, are independents Chisholm-Mingo Group in New York; Crossover Creative Group in Richmond, Calif.; Garcia 360 and The Obo Team, both in San Antonio; E. Morris Communications in Chicago; LatinWorks in Austin, Texas; Lopez Negrete in Houston; and Publicis Groupe's Bromley Communications and Pangea Partners, both in San Antonio. 3B Resources Group Public Relations in Houston and an undisclosed PR firm were also sent the document, sources said.

The winning agency will launch a creative and media campaign in the Houston area. The effort will be considered a test for other markets, sources said. A cut to less than five agencies is expected next.

The Auburn Hills, Mich.-based client could not immediately be reached for comment. The automaker spent $71 million on general-market media last year, according to TNS Media Intelligence/CMR. Havas' McKinney + Silver in Raleigh, N.C., is Audi's general-market agency.